Don Narcomey Whole

Governor's Gallery - January 7 – March 6, 2011

April 4, 2011

Don Narcomey
Oklahoma City based sculptor Don Narcomey uses elements from nature in most of his art, including the works in this exhibit titled Whole. He says, "The inherent color, texture, form, or unique characteristics of the materials at hand help guide me in the decisions regarding concepts and processes." Sometimes his artwork captures the unique natural stresses, defects, and faults in many elements such as found objects like an old refrigerator, as seen in "The Day I Found You." Other times the action of cutting, carving, or shaping a piece reveals a new characteristic of the material, such as the bouquet of wood used in his piece titled "Cure."

Untitled by Don Narcomey
For Narcomey, making art from natural elements is a meditation on life. He says, "I look for something about the nature of these materials to give me some insight about the nature of life or the human experience. As I work through a piece, I begin to learn a little more about myself and the world around me."

The titles of Narcomey's works often serve as clues to his thought process; however, he often uses words with multiple meanings which give the viewer the opportunity to take multiple paths in exploring the work. The works in this exhibit reflect a journey the artist has taken in his personal life. He says, "At this point in my personal life I feel a sense of completeness that I haven't felt in a long time, as if I've patched the holes and rebuilt the bridges in my life, and as a result I am feeling whole again."

Untitled by Don Narcomey
Narcomey is a lifelong resident of Oklahoma and is proud of his Seminole/Muscogee Creek heritage. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Central State University (now the University of Central Oklahoma) in Edmond where he taught sculpture and three-dimensional design from 2000 to 2004. He now resides in Oklahoma City and maintains a studio behind his house where he works on mixed-media sculpture as well as one-of-a-kind pieces of furniture. Narcomey exhibits his works nationally and has won awards for both his art and furniture, including an honorable mention at the National Contemporary Crafts Competitive at the George A. Spiva Center for the Arts in Joplin, Missouri. In 2001, his furniture work was featured on HGTV's nationally televised program called Modern Masters.

Capitol Exhibitions

The Capitol is home to four art galleries, exhibiting works of current and past Oklahoma artists.

About the Governor's Gallery

Located on the second floor of the Capitol, adjacent to the Governor's Blue Room, the Governor's Gallery features paintings and mixed media works by current Oklahoma artists. Exhibitions rotate approximately every 60 days.